Calling the Audible

I'm excited for football season to kick off soon. I'm not an avid player/watcher, but I enjoy watching a game here and there (and being a Chief's fan, I'm not used to looking for a win too often). One of my favorite parts to watch on the field is when an audible's called. The play that was made in the huddle is no longer the plan, and everyone on the field is adjusting to fit the new settings.

These last several weeks, I've been reading through 1st and 2nd Samuel. It had been a while since I had gone through these books, but I felt like going through the story of Saul and David. I'm at a point in my life where my roles are changing. At church, I was brought on to lead our ministries from birth through college, and I've been struggling to figure out how to meet all of the needs within this broad range of learning-styles and needs.

This morning, I was reading 2 Samuel 21 about David going to battle against the Philistines. In this passage, David was fighting alongside his warriors, but he became tired and was almost killed by a giant. One of his warriors rushed in and killed the giant, but the reality was evident: David wasn't fit for battle any more.

As I read this passage, I'm reminded that we each have different roles in each of the seasons of our lives. David was no longer a shepherd boy, whose role was to guard livestock. He wasn't a battle-hardened warrior any longer either. Now, it was his time to step back from the front lines and lead in a new role.

Looking at my own future, I wonder how I'll respond to the different roles before me. Will I come to a point where my entire identity lies in leading in battle? Will I lock myself into a role that I can no longer fill? I pray that God prepares me for those transitions in life, and that I can graciously step out of one role and into another.

And I think that's the beauty of it- that we don't step into death or nothingness when we leave a role. We step into another purpose. One that we couldn't fulfill at any other point in our lives.

I ask for you to pray with me/for me that God will show me His direction in this role, and that I will be willing to listen to His voice and follow His plan the moment He calls the audible.

Refresh

It's been quite a while! I'm amazed how quickly life can overtake us. The last few months I've been working my tail off: bouncing from meeting to meeting, from job to job, from moment to moment, and I've been convicted about how I spend the time I do have for myself. As I was reflecting on how my days, weeks and months have panned out, I couldn't help but think about all of the time I've wasted, all of the opportunities I've missed, all of the hearts I've overlooked.

Then the excuses come in. Look at how busy you are! You're juggling a full-time job, a life of ministry and a family. You should take every free moment you have for yourself. You deserve it.

I'm amazed at how convincing those arguments can be.
I'm ashamed at how easily they have swayed me.

I've come to the point where the accepted is no longer acceptable. Where the truth must destroy the lies.

My heart's laziness is thrown out on the table. Even though there aren't many opportunities for it to develop, the core has been hardened by my own selfishness.

And ministry isn't a convenient occurrence. It doesn't happen on my time-frame. It can't flourish when it has to fit in from 6:00-8:00 on Tuesdays.

It is a life.

I'm trying to wake up with that realization. That today is another chance to build the Kingdom. As my mind refreshes with this revelation, I can feel my heart soften. I can see my relationships begin to grow again.

I realize this is more of a "Confessions" post, but I wanted to get this out there. Maybe you will be encouraged and challenged. I hope you will continue to hold me accountable and encourage me when you see me fall.

Let's do this together.